Front sight for rifles and revolvers



Drafismar OR 194179670 SR 1.]. LE FEVER.

FRONT SIGHT FOR RIFLES AND REVOLVERS- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1920.

1,417,670, Patented May 30, 1922.

Fla 2 Z r Y f ss. ssomernxcm msrnutasm's. Qrafsmm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE.

JOSEPH 3'. LE FEVER, OF NEWPORT, IDAHO.

FRONT SIGHT FOR RIFLES AND REVOLVERS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented play 30, 1922,

Application filed March 23, 1920. Serial No. 368,166.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. Ln FEVER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing atNewport, county of Bonner, and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Front Sights for Rifles and Revolvers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to this class of sights for firearms adapted for use in connection either with or without the usual rear sight. The primary object of the invention is the provision of a sight which is readily visible and distinctly and clearly outlined for use on dark days, or at twilight and the early morning hours, to afford to the gunner the required means for accuracy in firing.

To this end the invention consists essentially in providing the bead of the sight with a specially constructed inclined or angular face for the reflection of light rays, which assumes the geometrical figure of a circle when brought into proper alinement and vision of the eye of the gunner, and further in constructing this visible or sight portion of the sighting piece, of material which is capable of a high polish to present a bright appearance and marked contrast with other portions of the sighting piece.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sight piece embodying the novel features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the sight piece.

Figure 3 is an end view, showing the bright, circular face of the head of the sight piece.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sight piece, detached from the firearm.

The sight piece is adapted for attachment at the front or muzzle end of the firearm, the barrel of which is fashioned with a dovetail mortise, extending transversely thereof at the top of the barrel to receive the transverse tenon or dovetailed blade 1 of the sight piece which is adapted to slide into and be retained in the notch or mortise.

Above the transverse tenon or blade 1, is arranged an integral, longitudinally extending bead plate 2 for alinement with the barrel of the firearm to which the sight piece is attached. This bead plate is rectangular in form with inclined side and end upper faces which merge at 3 into a comparatively thin web of metal, and above the web, which is of suflicient weight and strength for the purpose, is supported a bead 4. The bead is in the form of a double cone, circular in cross section, with its maximum diameter at the breech end of the sight, and its rounded top gradually declines or slopes to the front or muzzle end of the firearm.

At the breech end of the sight piece the bead 4: is cut away, as indicated at 5, and a sight 6 is fixed in this cut out or recessed part of the bead, to form an integral member therewith. The sight is also circular in cross section and of conical form, and conforms to the lines of the bead. The sight 6 preferably is made of phosphor bronze or other metal that will take a high polish and will not corrode under exposure to changes in weather or climatic conditions. The breech end of the sight 6 is provided with, a flat, inclined face 7 declining or sloping to ward the rear end of the firearm, and as the sight 6 is of conical formation, the plane of the face 7 presents somewhat of an elliptical appearance, as viewed from above. The geometrical figure of the sight presented to the eye of the gunner, however, is a perfect circle, as in Fig. 3.

In the construction of the sight piece, the tenon or blade 1, the bead plate 2 and the bead 3 are preferably integral and of steel, or other dark or dull appearing metal, while the insert or sight 6 is of phosphor bronze or similar material capable of a high polish, and joined as an integral member of the sight piece.

The incline or slope of the face 7 of the sight is such that the light rays, or the angle of incidence of these rays, from above, striking the polished or bright reflecting plane 7 are reflected at an equal angle to the rear, and the visible plane or surface presented to the eye of the gunner, is in the form of a circle contrasting with, and standing out clearly against the dark background, including the exposed portion of the sight piece or plate. The front part of the bead, or that portion toward the muzzle of the fire arm is entirely invisible from the rear of the sight and the vision of the gunner.

The formation of the entire sight piece is such as to prevent its catching in or on shrubbery, as there are no angular projections or sharp corners on the sight piece to become entangled With foliage or shrubbery.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new is A front sight for a fire arm comprising an attaching blade, an integral bead plate arranged at right angles to the blade and having its upper faces merging into a comparatively thin longitudinal Web, an enlarged head of double conical shape above said Web having a cut away portion, and a sight piece fixed in said cut away portion and forming an integral part of the bead, said sight piece having an angular sight face at the free end thereof presenting the form of a circle when viewed from the breech end of the fire arm.

. JOE J. LE FEVER. In presence of- E. L. SHELDON, WV. J GROVE. 

